Trump Announces Three-Day Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire and Major Prisoner Swap
in Blog, Latest Updates, News on May 9, 2026Trump Confirms Temporary Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine after both countries accused each other of violating separate temporary truces linked to Victory Day celebrations. Trump said the ceasefire would include a suspension of “all kinetic activity” along with a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners from each side. Soon after the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s participation, while Russian state media also reported that Vladimir Putin had accepted the proposal.
Moscow and Kyiv Continue Accusing Each Other
Earlier, both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of continuing attacks despite previous ceasefire announcements. Moscow officials also reported overnight drone activity near the Russian capital. Trump stated that he personally requested the temporary truce and appreciated the cooperation shown by both Putin and Zelensky.
Russia Warns Ukraine Ahead of Victory Day
Putin had earlier announced a ceasefire covering 8-9 May ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, while Kyiv had pushed for a longer ceasefire beginning on 6 May. Russia warned Ukraine not to target the Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square. The Russian defence ministry also threatened a “massive retaliatory missile strike” against central Kyiv if attacks occurred during the celebrations. Security across Moscow has been tightened significantly, with residents in both Moscow and St Petersburg warned that mobile internet access could be restricted for security reasons.
Drone Attacks and Ceasefire Violations Continue
Despite the ceasefire announcement, both countries continued accusing each other of violations on Friday. Russia’s defence ministry claimed Ukrainian forces attacked civilian areas in the Kursk and Belgorod border regions and stated that Russian forces responded proportionally. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said around 20 drones were intercepted near the city during the first hours of the truce.
Airports Suspended Operations After Drone Threats
Ukraine also reportedly launched strikes targeting industrial and military-related sites in the Perm, Yaroslavl, and Rostov regions, along with Grozny in Chechnya. Following the drone attacks, operations at 13 airports in southern Russia were temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, Zelensky stated on Telegram that Russian forces launched more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions and carried out over 850 drone strikes within hours of the ceasefire taking effect. He added that Ukraine would respond “in kind”.
European Leaders Discuss Future Peace Talks
The ongoing exchange of accusations comes as European leaders continue discussing possible future negotiations with Russia. European Council President António Costa recently stated there was “potential” for the European Union to engage Russia in talks aimed at ending the war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by saying Russia remains open to dialogue but would not initiate talks independently. During a visit to Italy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains willing to support negotiations but does not want discussions to continue without meaningful progress.
Wildfire Spreads Near Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Separately, emergency teams in Ukraine are battling a major wildfire near the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Officials say strong winds, dry weather, and landmines left behind from the war are making firefighting efforts increasingly difficult. Authorities confirmed that radiation levels remain within normal limits despite the wildfire spreading across roughly 11 square kilometres.
